Kielmannsegg Infantry
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Origin and History
A new regiment of three battalions was raised in 1741 and allocated to Colonel Daniel von Bourdon. Each battalion counted five companies of 150 men each. In 1745, at the death of its colonel, the regiment was subdivided into three distinct regiments, each counting a single battalion of seven companies. The present regiment became the property of Count von Kielmannsegg.
In 1747, during the War of the Austrian Succession (1740-48), the regiment was sent to the Austrian Netherlands. In March 1748, it took part in the affair of Rosenthal not far from Berg-op-Zoom. At the end of the year, it returned to Hanover.
During the Seven Years War the regimental inhaber was:
- from November 1745: Colonel Georg Ludewig, Count von Kielmannsegg (promoted to major-general in 1747; to lieutenant-general in 1758; retired in 1776 as general of infantry)
Service during the War
In May 1756, the regiment was part of the Hanoverian Contingent sent to reinforce Great Britain who feared a French invasion. On May 21, the contingent landed at Chatham. At the beginning of November, it became clear that Brunswick-Lüneburg (aka Hanover) was more seriously threatened than England and it was decided to gradually send the Hanoverian contingent back to the continent.
In March 1757, the regiment returned to its garrison place. It soon joined the Allied army on the Weser. On July 26, during the French invasion of Hanover, the regiment took part in the battle of Hastenbeck where it was deployed in the second line of the left wing under the command of Lieutenant-general Imhoff.
In March 1758, during the Allied winter offensive in Western Germany, the regiment was at the siege and capture of Minden. On May 26, the regiment was with Ferdinand's main force in the camp of Nottuln. On May 31, it accompanied Ferdinand in his offensive on the west bank of the Rhine. On June 23, the regiment took part in the Battle of Krefeld where it was deployed in the centre in Lieutenant-General von Oberg's Brigade. This brigade was ordered to make diversion towards Sankt-Tönis. In August, during the retreat of the Allied army, the regiment formed part of the rearguard and participated in a combat against three French dragoon regiments near Kleve.
In June 1759, during the French offensive in Western Germany, the regiment was part of Wangenheim's Corps who had taken position at Dülmen in Westphalia to observe the movement of a French corps under the Marquis d'Armentières. On August 1, the regiment took part in the Battle of Minden where it was deployed in Wangenheim's Corps between Kutenhausen and the Weser, in the first line of the infantry centre. At the end of August, the regiment fought an action against the Chasseurs de Fischer near Wettern.
On January 7, 1760, the regiment took part in the relief of the Castle of Dillenburg. In September, it followed the Hereditary Prince when he advanced on the Fortress of Wesel. On October 16, the regiment was left behind in front of Wesel when the Hereditary Prince unsuccessfully attacked the French at the Battle of Clostercamp.
At the beginning of January 1761, the regiment took part in the recapture of Duderstadt. On February 15, it took part in the Combat of Langensalza where it was attached to Spörcken's Corps. During the following campaign in Western Germany, on July 16, the regiment took part in the battle of Vellinghausen where it was attached to Lieutenant-General Oheimb's Brigade deployed on the right wing.
By May 23, 1762, the regiment was attached to the Corps of the Hereditary Prince of Brunswick operating in Westphalia. On August 30 1762, the regiment took part in the Combat of Nauheim where it was attached to Lieutenant-general von Hardenberg's Column. Around 11:00 AM, the regiment was part of those who passed the Wetter to attack the Johannisberg. On September 21, the regiment was present at the Combat of Amöneburg where it formed part of Zastrow's Corps occupying the ground immediately before the Brücker Mühle (Zastrow commanded in the absence of Lieutenant-general Hardenberg) where it lost Lieutenant-Colonel von Brunck, killed; and Captain von Estorf and Ensign von Anderten, severely wounded.
In 1763, the regiment garrisoned Stade.
Uniform
Privates
| Headgear |
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| Neckstock | black | ||||||||||||
| Coat | red lined grass green with 2 pewter buttons and 2 white buttonholes under the lapels
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| Waistcoat | grass green with 2 horizontal pockets, each with 3 pewter buttons | ||||||||||||
| Breeches | straw yellow | ||||||||||||
| Gaiters | white | ||||||||||||
| Leather Equipment |
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Troopers were armed with a musket and a sword, and carried a dark brown haversack with a metal canteen on the left hip.
Wissel mentions that the distinctive colour of the regiment was changed from grass green to white in 1761.
Officers
Officers had silver lace lining the cuffs and lapels, a black cockade hat, a gold gorget with the arms of Hanover in the centre and carried a yellow sash slung over the right shoulder. Sergeants wore straw gloves. Partizans were carried.
Musicians
Drummers wore a red coat with swallows nest and lace in white.
The drum pattern had hoops in alternating green and red diagonal stripes, white drum cords over a brass drum with the Arms of Hanover in the centre.
Colours
Colonel Flag: White field bearing the arms of Hanover (common to all Hanoverian infantry regiments except 10-B).
Regimental Flag: Green field. A crowned wreath within which a sword and shield armored warrior stands. Ciphers and crowns in the corners with scroll below crown reading MISCETUR DECORI VIRTUS. Hereafter, we present an illustration from the Reitzenstein Sammlung, dating from circa 1761 (left) and our own interpretation (right).
 Regimental Colour - Source: Interpretation of the Reitzenstein Sammlung (circa 1761) |
References
This article incorporates texts from the following books which are now in the public domain:
- Wissel, Friedrich v. and Georg von Wissel: Geschichte der Errichtung sämmtlicher Chur-Braunschweig-Lüneburgischen Truppen, sammt ihren Fahnen, Standarten und Pauken-Devisen ..., Zelle, 1786, pp. 701-711
Other sources
Biles, Bill: The Hanoverian Army in the 18th Century, Seven Years War Association Journal Vol. VI No. 3
Gmundener Prachtwerk, circa 1761
Knötel, H. der Jung, and Hans M. Brauer: Uniformbogen Nr. 45, Berlin
Pengel, R., and G. R. Hurt: German States in the Seven Years War 1740 to 1762, Imperial Press
Reitzenstein Sammlung, Bomann Museum, Celle
Rogge, Christian: The French & Allied Armies in Germany during the Seven Years War, Frankfurt, 2006
Vial, J. L., Nec Pluribus Impar
